#WrestleRome

U17 World Championships day two semis set

By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (July 26) -- After an eventful first day, the U17 World Championships will see another round of Greco-Roman action on day two. Wrestlers from 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg and 92kg will be eyeing a spot in their respective finals.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RECAP

14:45: The semifinals pair for the evening sessions

45kg
Ionut MEREUTA (ROU) vs. Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB)
Payam AHMADI (IRI) vs. Yevhen POKOVBA (UKR)

60kg
Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) vs. Abolfazl MIRSHEKAR (IRI)
Omar MOURAD (EGY) vs. Lucas Kevin LO GRASSO (FRA)

71kg
Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) vs. Ibrahim OZDEMIR (TUR)
Ararat VARDERESYAN (ARM) vs. Davud MAMMADOV (AZE)

51kg
Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) vs. AYTJAN KHALMAKHANOV (UZB)
Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) vs. Ali SUMBUL (TUR)

92kg
Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO) vs. Hamidreza Morteza KESHTKAR (IRI)
Darius KIEFER (GER) vs. Cody MERRILL (USA)

 14:30:  Payam AHMADI (IRI) and Yevhen POKOVBA (UKR) have set up a mouth-watering semifinal at 45kg. Ahmadi has been on a great run today while Pokovba is looking to add world gold to his continental title 

13:50: Returning silver medalist Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) could not have asked for a better start. He beats Hristo VALENTINOV (BUL) 9-0 inside the first period.

13:45: What a battle! Rauan BEKIMOV (KAZ), the Asian champion at 51kg, had the bout in control but Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) came from behind to win 8-7 and secure a place in the quarterfinals. Gholami is a bronze medalist in the Asian Championships.

13:35: In a battle of European medalists, silver in Bucharest Davud MAMMADOV (AZE) gets the turn from par terre while bronze medalist Maksym RADYK (UKR) fails to do so. Mammadov moves on to the quarterfinals 

13:25: No trouble for Ibrahim OZDEMIR (TUR) against Antal VAMOS (SRB). The European champion did give up three points but controlled the bout to score 11 to reach 80kg quarterfinals.

13:15: Omar MOURAD (EGY) is moving on. After upsetting Mahammad GASIMZADE (AZE) earlier, he now defeats Isa BEKTEMIROV (AUT) 9-0 to enter 60kg quarterfinals 

13:00: The 45kg quarterfinals

Huseyn SAVADOV (AZE) vs. Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB)
Omur YNTYMAK UULU (KGZ) vs. Payam AHMADI (IRI)
Hiro SAKAMOTO (JPN) vs. Ionut MEREUTA (ROU)
Yevhen POKOVBA (UKR) vs. Beknur MUKAN (KAZ) 

12:40: In the other 71kg action, both European bronze medalists Dimitar RACHEV (BUL) and Maksym RADYK (UKR) are through to the next round. Rachev defeated Ding HUANG (TPE) 10-0 while Radyk beat Amirshoh VAHOBOV (UZB) 9-0. 

12:30: The upset! European champ at 60kg Mahammad GASIMZADE (AZE) began with a great four-pointer and led 7-0 when he tried to hip toss Omar MOURAD (EGY), who turns mid-air to have Gasimzade on his back. He secures the fall.

12:20: Ararat VARDERESYAN (ARM) gives no chance to Asian champion Mohammad MORADI (IRI) at 71kg. Moradi did score three points but cannot match the power of Vardersyan who wins 12-3

12:00: European champion at 45kg Yevhen POKOVBA (UKR) works hard for a 6-2 win over Giorgi KOCHALIDZE (GEO). That's a big hurdle he has crossed early in the tournament.

11:50: U17 Asian silver medalist Payam AHMADI  (IRI) kicks off the day with a top win. He was involved in a few scrambles with Neeraj PATEL (IND) but eventually won 10-2

11:30: The day will kick off with the repechage bouts before the qualification bouts of 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg and 80kg.

11:25: Welcome to yet another warm day here in Rome. The wrestlers are ready for their qualification bouts.

#development

Strength Through Solidarity: Palestine, Jordan Partnership Strengthens Wrestling Development

By United World Wrestling Press

AMMAN, Jordan (February 10) -- A two-week wrestling development program aimed at strengthening wrestling in Palestine concluded on January 25, marking the completion of the first phase of the Development of National Sport System (DNSS) in Wrestling framework. 

The program, held from January 11 to 25 in Amman, Jordan, brought together 17 Palestinian participants, including athletes and coaches. The initiative was organized through a partnership between Olympic Solidarity and United World Wrestling, with logistical and technical support from the Jordan Wrestling Federation.

The coaching course and training camp were delivered by Hassan MADANY (EGY) and Ahmed KHEDHRI (TUN), both UWW-certified educators and wrestling experts in the region.

Palestine

The training course featured a combination of classroom instruction and on-mat technical training, designed to advance coaching standards while improving wrestling performance. The program also included practical teaching sessions, during which participants learned how to introduce and teach new skills using key factors and Discovery Games, supported by continuous evaluation to monitor learning progress.

Practical training emphasized foundational wrestling skills, including stance, movement, and level transitions. Participants practiced core offensive and defensive techniques, including single-leg and double-leg takedowns, grip control, sprawls, and pinning combinations.

The program also incorporated instructional methodology workshops, where participants practiced introducing new techniques using structured teaching models and game-based learning strategies, supported by continuous performance assessments.

The theoretical component covered wrestling fundamentals, including rules, terminology and technical principles, alongside broader athlete welfare subjects such as safety protocols, risk management, safeguarding measures and anti-doping education. Other sessions also explored coaching communication strategies and methods for identifying performance indicators critical to technical development, particularly for youth and beginner athletes.

Palestine

United World Wrestling Asia Council President Mohammad AWAMLEH and Palestine Wrestling Federation President Firas DOUDIN attended the program. 

"I express my sincere appreciation to Olympic Solidarity and United World Wrestling for their continued support of the Olympic Development Program," Doudin said. "It plays an important role in strengthening wrestling structures in Palestine. I thank the educators for their professionalism and commitment, as well as the Jordan Wrestling Federation and the UWW Asian Council leadership for their support and cooperation."

Participants described the course as a valuable learning experience, highlighting the quality of instruction, the balance between theory and practice, and the progressive on-mat training approach.

Palestine

The execution of the program marks a crucial step in developing coaching and wrestling in Palestine, demonstrates solidarity, and reflects UWW’s commitment to sustainable wrestling development worldwide.